Reflective Encounters

Middle Watch from John Stevenson and Aiesha Penwarden is a still and reflective exploration of anxiety, solitude, and post-traumatic stress disorder. It focuses on the experiences of war and trauma that a sailor must come to terms with, as he braves another night on the Middle Watch. Early on, a frightening sequence of hallucinations and anxieties unfolds, presenting a clever perspective on a tale centred around trauma.

With a jagged and striking geometric animation style the bold lines and shapes in this animation reflect the harshness of mental suffering. Based on a letter penned by a WWII sailor, the BAFTA nominated film immerses its audience in a world of fantastical creatures and mysterious oceanic visuals. These elements of delirium and fear are juxtaposed against the sombre and melancholic ambiance throughout the film. Accompanying the sharp and jolting animation style is an eerie, haunting score which serves to supplement the visuals and bolsters the sense of fear and panic the film exposes.

Animation as a means of presenting and navigating trauma works immensely well. In Middle Watch, the full exploration of imagination and reflection is brilliantly utilised making for a truly compelling and engaging watch.

— Tom Collinson